Mercer's Sockeye Fly

Mercer's Sockeye Fly

Hook: TMC 811S, Sz: 4-6

Thread: 6/0 Black

Body: Orange UV Ice Dub (use dubbing loop, pick out)

Hackle: Orange Saddle Hackle

Over Wing: Black Squirrel

Representin' Floatfisher

 A huge shout out to Mark and his crew that were recently over on the San Juan River catching some 

nice fish. Mark was nice enough to sport the Floatfisher brand for the New Mexico locals.

Thanks for Representing the Brand. More swag to come your way.

If you have not checked out Marks blogsite it is quality, do it now

www.tieandflycolorado.blogspot.com

Some quality San Juan Rainbows

High Lake Larry

High Lake Larry

Hook: TMC 2499, Sz: 14

Thread: Brown UTC 140

Abdomen: Brown UTC 140

Rib: Silver and Gun Metal Blue Wire

Thorax: Mixture of Blue / Dun UV Ice Dubbing

Hackle: Brown Indian Hen Saddle

3rd Place

Floatfisher was honored with a Third Place finish in a recent photo contest for Rainbow in the Net.

Always pleased to place amongst the good photographers out in the country.

Yippee!!

Harvester Midge Pattern

Harvester Midge

Hook: TMC 2499, Sz: 16-18

Thread: Veevus 10/0 Olive

Bead: Black Tungsten

Rib: Small Black Wire

Body: Veevus 10/0 Olive

Two Tone Midge

A very easy fly to tie that will yield some nice fish. Spin a couple up

and add a half row to your box.

Two Tone Midge

Hook: TMC 2499, Sz: 16-18

Thread: Veevus 10/0 Olive and 10/0 Red

Bead: Gold Tungsten 

Rib: Small Gold Wire

Back to the Ditch and Fly Pattern of the Day

Finally it is time to get back to the ditch and wet a line. Seems like it has been a month or so, but only several weeks. That is along time for our household. Will feel good to get both the flyrod and the oars back in the hands.

The second season is now upon us, and some of the best fishing is here. A little morning nip in the air to start the day, days are shorter, and the fish start the winter feed. What can be better.

Oh yeah, throw in the streamer bite. Let's get it on.

Brown's Cabin Callibaetis

Hook: TMC 2499, Sz: 14-16

Thread: Veevus 10/0 Olive

Body: Veevus 10/0 Olive

Tail: Mallard Flank

Rib: Small Hot Yellow Wire

(Original pattern calls for yellow thread rib)

Wings: Two White/ Two Brown CDC Feathers

(Original pattern tied by Erin Block)

Green Spot Pheasant Tail by Curtis Fry

I am really enjoying the the flies tied by Curtis Fry and his fine site, www.flyfishfood.com, if you have not had the time to visit it and watch his collection of flytying video's, you are missing out. Quality flies, quality videos. The flies are not overly complicated but will be amazingly effective on many waters.

This is a prime example. what a great freestone pattern, tied in sizes 14-16.

Green Spot Pheasant Tail

Hook: Gamakatsu R10-B #16

Bead: 2.3 mm Tungsten 

Thread: UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier, Black

Body: Green Dyed Pheasant Tail

Over-Body: UTC Holo-Tinsel, Black (Med)

Ribbing: UTC Ultrawire, Copper Brown (Small)

Thorax: Arizona Synth Dubbing, Peacock

Legs: Coq de Leon or Hen Hackle fibers

Hotspot: Glo-Brite Floss, Orange

Wing Case: UTC Holo-Tinsel, Black (Lrg)

Coating: Clear Cure Goo Hydro

Photo of the Day- Black and White from the Bench

Black and White from the bench last night before the Bronco game. Had nice tickets in the company

suite that I could not pass up. Game was not very exciting, but food and coctails were good. 

Black Canyon Gunnison National Park at the East Portal

Spent the weekend doing something a little different, and went over to check out the Gunnison River, at the East Portal. As you will see by the photo essay, the weekend did not disappoint and the scenery was spectacular. The vistas are grand, canyon, well one of the deepest in the country and the rock, absolutely stunning. 

Best highlight of the weekend was the upclose and personal visit by our friend Yogi. Very curious and unaffected by the folks around. He simply wanted to come over to be with us on our side. Just so happened the water was too deep in between us.

He cruised up and down the bank, scaring the hell out the fisherman on the other side, it was quite funny, I thought. 

Finally he decided he had had enough and was coming over. Red Rover, Red Rove, I am coming over!!  Not being a very agile swimmer with deeper water and current carried him down until he gained  his footing and bothered a few more fisherman, before cruising into the woods.

One of the great view of this amazing canyon. 

Rugged and not for the faint of heart. Better have some good hiking boots.

 Oh, did I mention the fishing was alright too.

Floatfisher Thanks All Loyal Viewers

I would like to say a special Thank You to all the loyal Floatfisher readers for helping me 

surpass the magical 50,000 mark in views. I would have never guessed a flyfishing and flytying hack

like me would have folks as kind as you all follow my blog. I will continue to post regularly and hopefully provide better content in the coming year.

Thank you again!

Montana Revisited

 Can never get enough of the landscape shots of fabulous Montana. While cruising through Lightroom on the laptop tonight I came across these archived shots. 

While throwing steaks on the grill, the sun was setting, we could not pass up the view and photo opportunity this presented. 

 Old barn on the banks of the lower Beaverhead.

Fire in the sky, day two while grilling and having a glass of wine on the deck.

Emergent Sparkle Pupa by Curtis Fry

One of the most beloved caddis patterns made famous by Gary Lafontaine many years ago. In the great little video, Curtis Fry demonstrates how to tie this relatively simple pattern. 

Spent Partridge Caddis by Tightline Productions

Spent Partridge Caddis from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.

Based on Mike Lawson's widely effective Spent Partridge Caddis pattern, this is a hugely effective fly

to have in your box. Twist up a few. 

Mini Mohair Leech

Mini Mohair Leech

Hook: TMC 200, Sz: 8 -12

Thread: 8/0 Olive

Tail: Olive Marabou

Tail Flash: Olive Krystal Flash

Body Flash: Pearl Krystal Flash

Body: Olive Mohair

Fly Pattern of the Day - the "Cutty Killer"

I was digging through a couple of things today and came across this well used fly last night and thought this would be a great post, as this is killer cutthroat pattern on the St. Mary's River in British Columbia. Those slow rising buggers just love to foam and lots of rubber legs twitching. This fly has lots and lots of legs to twitch.

Give it a try if your up that way, a terrific river. Should be on your TO DO List

 Cutty Killer

TMC 2312, Size 6-12

Thread: Brown 140 UTC

Body: Small Orange Cactus Chenille

Foam Bottom: Dark Brown 2MM

Foam Top: Pink 2MM

Indicator: Yellow Foam

Legs #1: Orange Pumpkin Sili Legs

Legs #2: White Round - Marked with Sharpie (color of choice)

Greg Garcia's- Hot Butt Sally

Garcia's Hot Butt Sally

Hook: TMC 200, 14-20

  Thread: 70 Denier Yellow UTC, 

Overbody: Clear Micro Tubing 

Tag: Red Flashabou 

Body: 70 Denier Yellow UTC

 Underwing: SLF Prism Dubbing, Sand Color 

Overwing: Bleached Deer Hock 

Hackle: Cream Rooster Saddle or Neck 

Thorax: Bright Yellow SLF Prism Dubbing

Floatfisher's October Caddis

Floatfisher October Caddis

Hook: Gamakatsu C12U, Sz: 6-12

Thread: UTC 140 Burnt Orange

Lead: .020

Abdomen: Blend- Burnt Orange/ Tan Sow Scud Dubbing

Wing: Crinkled Dun Z-Lon

Antennae: Pumpkin Sili Legs

Hackle: Brown Indian Hen

Collar: Blend- Burnt Orange/ Tan Sow Scud Dubbing

Sunday's Featured Fly- Greg Garcia's - "Rojo Midge"

With all the rains and floods in the Denver area, we decided to stay in town and keep out off the roads but run some errands for the upcoming week. One of the stops was to visit my good friend Greg Garcia, world renowned flytyer, flycaster and retailer at Anglers All. Always nice to see Greg as he usually finds a way to reduce my wallet by a few hundred dollars. 

In honor of the master, I thought I would feature his famous Rojo Midge. A tremendous fly for any of the Colorado rivers and lakes. If you do not have a row of these in your flybox, SHAME on you.

Twist up a few, if not, go in and see Greg at Anglers All, tell him Floatfisher sent you in,

he will give you something free.

Rojo Midge

Hook: TMC 200, Sz: 16-22

Bead: X-Small Red Bead

Thread: 10/0 Veevus Red

Abdomen: 10/0 Veevus Red

Rib: Red Lagartun Wire

Collar: Bright Green Dyed Peacock

Gill Tuft: Ultra Floss- Dental Floss

Fly Pattern of the Day- "Desert Storm"

A very good tailwater fly, but do not discount the use of it on freestone rivers also, just tie it with a tungsten bead and a larger size.

Desert Storm

Hook: TMC 2687, Sz: 16-22

Thread: Fire Orange

Bead: Black Glass or Black Tungsten

Rib: Pearl Flashabou

Top Coat: Clear Cure Goo

(Photo courtesy of Danica/flytier.com)

Craven's Poison Tung

Craven's Poison Tung

Hook: TMC 2487, Sz: 16-20

Bead: Black Tungsten

Tread: Veevus 10/0

Wire: B/R Black Wire

Collar: Black UV Ice Dubbing

"Montucky Hogs" by Tommy Penick

Montucky Hogs from Tommy Penick on Vimeo.

While we endure the last day of the "Front Range Floods" in Commerce City, it is a good day to 

enjoy good, down to earth video short. Tommy Penick has put together a real nice selection of clips

that sum up a couple days of fishing. Only to be capped off by my favorite, a Mule.

We will start off with a cup of joe this morning while we watch it rain, yet another day.

Orange Chubby

Orange Chubby

Hook: Dia Riki 730, Sz. 8-12

Thread: UTC 140 Orange

Tail: Orange/ Pearl Krystal Flash

Body: 2mm Tan Foam

Underbody: Razor Foam

Dubbing: Orange UV Ice Dubbing

Legs: Sili Legs- Pumpkin/ Orange

Wing: White McFlylon

2013 Drake Magazine Video Awards- "Best Video Meltdown" Category

Take a gander at the three nominee's for the best Melt Down on a Fishing Video

Award at this summers Drake Magazine Awards. This definitely reminds me of a 

very passionate fisherman I know.

This is some funny stuff.

"Groupie Sculpin" by Richard Strolis

Have a little down time this week, as the camera's are in for routine services, will be digging a few items out of my photo archives and some of the great items found around the web.

Groupie Sculpin-HD 720p from Richard Strolis on Vimeo.

Check out this great video by Richard Strolis tying his "Groupie Sculpin" . An excellent single hook sculpin tie. Looks to be a very simple, but very effective tie that you could substitute several color combinations. If you have never seen Richards fabulous work, check it our at 

www. catching-shadows.com

CarpSlam AfterParty Part 2

Well, since we were in town we decided and we were following a bunch of crazy fisherman trying to catch the wily carp, we might as well go and hang with them at the CarpSlam 7 Afterparty. A good time would be had with a $25 cover for all the wine and beer one could drink, throw in a great bbq chicken and pulled pork dinner, well you got a great start to a Saturday night.

Oh, did I mention that a great local band Ethyl and the Regular were the background music.. Score.

If you have been around, you have heard them play many of your favorite places in the state.

Always a sucker for great pieces of art, Floatfisher has two new piece for the home and office.

If you have not heard of Scott Wells, you need too. These are true pieces of art. Not to mention the steal of price we walked away with it for. Thanks Scott.

We also ended up with a Copi Vojta photo print, again at a steal. You can't pass these up.

Fishpond was key sponsor of the night and donated may pieces , could not pass up a deal on a new roller bag, ended up  with this and new purse and bag for the Mrs, from LilyPond. All in all, a great night for a great cause.

CarpSlam 7

Spent our Saturday attending the 7th Annual Carp Slam in downtown Denver put on by the Denver Trout Unlimited Chapter # 128.  Ms. Floatfisher and I decided to find a couple of beats and see if we could find the particpants, amatures and pros trying to catch these crazy fish. 

There would be two sessions a morning and afternoon, with 13 or so beats chosen at random

We scouted out one of the northern beats, where the pro was decked out in total "camo" as the fish were  spooky and hard to find. Lots of miles were put on by the contestants to find the fish.

Can you spot him in the bush.

At the top try trying to pick out another fly, while he is on break. The two contestants take turns fishing for 30 minutes for the first 2 hours and the last hour they both get to fish.

Each group has an official to measure fish and keep time throughout the day

Scouting carp high from the bank, often times you will spook them from this far up.

Crouching Tiger

Photo of the Day- "Little Cutty"

"Little Cutty to the Adams"

Fall Tying has Begun

The fall tying season has begun. It all started with the annual phone call from the local solicitor from my favorite TU Chapter asking for my normal donation to the verbal auction. I am a sucker for TU, as the organization does so many great things for rivers, streams, fish, kids, well, just so many things I believe in. It is the least I can do, to tie 50-100 dozen flies a year for 3-4 different chapters and auctions.

My first selections will be a box of tailwater midge /nymph selection , paired with a second box of dry flies. Hell I will probably throw in one of my signature framed Photo's as well.

To see the donated selection come to the:

Cutthroat Chapter Trout Unlimited 

Annual Fundraising Auction

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

6:00 pm

Wildlife Experience

10035 Peoria St, Parker, CO

Floatfisher Blue Zelon Midge

Hook: Dia Riki 125, Sz: 18

Bead: Black Plastic

Thread: Black Veevus 10/0

Tail: Black/ Pearl Krystal Flash

Abdomen: Black Veevus 10/0

Rib: Lagartun Fine Blue Wire

Dubbing: Blue Ribbon Black/ Amber Zelon

Fire Girl Photography

Fire Girl Photography: Dipping Water - A fire fighting helicopter comes in for more water on Hyalite Lake. Millie Fire, Gallatin National Forest, Montana, United States.


I have been following Jess all summer since she started working with the team at Headhunter on the Missouri. I am sure you have seen her fine work if you read any of the Blogs- especially ChiWulff , or some Montana fishing publications. Her work is brilliant. Jess has an eye for capturing great shots. When you have a chance check out her website, www.firegirlphotography.com , check out her portfolios on Missouri River Project and Fires. Brilliant

Photo of the Day- "Buzzed"

Caught up in a beautiful day this bee was just going about his business.

Dutch Oven Prime-

The long weekend presented itself with a couple of perplexing dilemmas for us, the first was, how much actual fishing might get done? Probably none!  Did we bring enough wine and other beverages to make it through the weekend. Yes! One thing we knew we were doing was our favorite Dutch Oven Prime, this would be the signature Saturday meal, along with some nice wines and scotch.

 Oven is now pre-heated with oil, the charcoal is ready and the prime will be sealed for the rest of the time. This was the largest one we have done at 4 ribs, so we were guestimating at 1 hour 45 minutes or so.

Coals in action doing their work. Grease and fat dripping inside, prime cooking absolutely perfect.

 At 1.45 hours we check the temperature, she is reading 100 degree's , still a little rare. will go just a little longer.

 As the prime emerged from the Dutch Oven all the chefs helpers were well lubed with a selection of Malbec's and a fine 17 year Balvenie Single malt. The evening was a success.

By the way, our predictions were right, no fish were hurt by hooks during our weekend events. 

Good times were spent with great friends.

Mike's Honey Ant by Tightline Productions

Mike's Honey Ant from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.

Mike's Honey Ant

Hook: Dia Riki 300, Sz:16

Thread: Brown 6/0

Abdomen: Copper Sow Scud Dubbing

Legs: 3 Strands Copper Krystal Flash

Wing: Dark Dun Z-lon

Thorax: Olive Brown Austrailian Possium

Salida Wine Fest

On our way home from looking at another new Toy, this weekend, we stopped at the 2nd annual Salida Winefest to sample some of Colorado's up and coming wineries. A beautiful overcast afternoon,

coupled with ample amounts of nice local wines provided for a very nice day with my wife.

 We were treated to some fabulous local acoustic musicians throughout the day, making the day just that more enjoyable. Paired with a fantastic food cart that had amazing Oysters on the Half, smoked shrimp and great cheese plates.

Talon Vinyards well represented, very good, a little too sweet for my liking,